WO2012095265A2

WO2012095265A2 - Refrigeration device comprising a heating device

Info

Publication number: WO2012095265A2
Application number: PCT/EP2011/074091
Authority: WO
Inventors: Athanasios Athanasiou
Original assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH
Priority date: 2011-01-13
Filing date: 2011-12-27
Publication date: 2012-07-19
Also published as: DE102011002642A1; WO2012095265A3

Abstract

The invention relates to a refrigeration device (1) comprising a heating device (11, 11A). Said heating device (11, 11A) is designed to heat, during a predetermined period of time, an area (10, 10A) of the refrigeration device (1) to a predetermined temperature which is suitable to at least partially sterilise said area (10, 10A), in particular for killing pathogenes and/or pathogenic bacteria.

Description

Refrigerating appliance with heating device

The invention relates to a refrigerator with a heating device and a method for producing such a refrigerator.

Refrigerators usually have a cooling chamber, which is brought by a cooling circuit to a cooling temperature. At this cooling temperature, the refrigerated goods stored in the refrigerator should be kept fresh for as long as possible or a maximum storage life can be achieved. Germs and pathogenic bacteria that regularly enter the refrigerator, can counteract this endeavor and lead to premature spoilage of refrigerated goods. If such germs are in the refrigerator, they can multiply and lead to a further deterioration of the refrigerated goods. In particular, during the various operating phases of the cooling cycle, the

Humidity in the refrigeration appliance precipitate as condensation or lead to icing in the refrigeration appliance. In a desired or arbitrary defrosting of the ice creates condensation. In such condensation or condensation, which accumulates intentionally or unintentionally in areas of the refrigerator, it can turn to

Propagation of germs or bacteria come. Since the formation of bacteria is often associated with an odor, is in conventional

Refrigeration appliances tries to prevent or reduce this odor development by means of deodorizing measures. However, the number of germs and bacteria remains essentially unchanged in such measures, so that premature spoiling of the refrigerated goods can not be prevented.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved hygiene concept for a refrigeration device. This object is solved by the features of the independent claims.

Advantageous forms of further education are the subject of the dependent claims. According to one aspect, the invention relates to a refrigeration device with a heating device. The heating device is set up to heat a region of the refrigeration device to a predetermined temperature in a predetermined period of time, which is suitable for at least partial sterilization of the region. In particular, the predetermined temperature is suitable for killing pathogens and / or pathogenic bacteria. With the proposed heating device, it is thus possible in particular to specifically heat areas of the refrigeration device, which usually collect a high number of pathogens, in order to correspondingly reduce the number of pathogens. By appropriately regular use of the heater can thus be achieved that a concentration of pathogens in the refrigerator is reduced to a safe level. A refrigerator of the type proposed is thus more hygienic and allows a longer storage of refrigerated goods.

In one embodiment, the predetermined temperature is greater than or equal to 70 ° C, and more preferably greater than 80 ° C. At such temperatures, the drops

Survival of pathogens and bacteria has been shown to be significant, with higher temperatures needed only for a shorter time to be used to achieve comparable results in the sterilization or killing of the pathogens and bacteria. According to another embodiment, the predetermined temperature is less than or equal to 100 ° C, especially less than 90 ° C. The predetermined temperature is preferably not chosen above the proposed upper limits in order to prevent a possible harmful influence of a too high temperature on the refrigerated goods. Likewise, in the choice of the predetermined temperature of the energy required for the

Heating device to be considered.

According to a further embodiment, the predetermined period of time is 5 s to 10 s. Such a duration for the period of time has proved to be favorable and sufficient, in particular for a predetermined temperature in the range as suggested above, in order to kill the highest possible number of pathogens in as short a time as possible.

According to a further embodiment, the heating device is set up to generate the predetermined temperature in a pulsed operation. In such a pulsed heating operation are killed in each pulsed heating phase pathogens and bacteria, without constantly heating the refrigerator and thus to cause an increased energy demand of the cooling circuit. In addition, such a pulse-shaped heating operation may prove to be favorable in the event that the area to be heated is in each case overflowed by new pathogens, for example dissolved in liquids, and / or they settle in the area to be heated. Consequently, a regular kill of pathogens and bacteria is thus achieved.

According to a further embodiment, the area to be heated is arranged inside a cooling space of the refrigeration device. As a result, the pathogens and bacteria can be killed, in particular directly in the area of which a large

Endangerment of the refrigerated goods. In other words, the critical area for the refrigerated goods, namely the refrigerator, can be kept substantially free of pathogens and bacteria. According to a further embodiment, the area to be heated comprises a liquid drain, in particular a condensation or condensate drain.

By way of example, such a liquid drain comprises a drainage channel and / or a drainage pipe. Thus, it can be prevented that propagate pathogens that accumulate in a liquid, since the liquid is exposed when passing through the liquid outflow of the predetermined temperature, which contained

Kills pathogens and bacteria.

According to a further embodiment, the area to be heated comprises a collecting device for collecting a liquid, in particular for collecting condensate of a defrosting device in the refrigerating appliance. For example, such a collection device comprises an evaporation tray for receiving the liquid. The

Evaporation tray may be disposed on a compressor of the refrigerator, wherein waste heat of the compressor can support the evaporation process of the liquid. In a corresponding collecting device is thus achieved that the pathogens and bacteria contained in the liquid are reduced in number by the heating so that a critical increase is prevented. Preferably, the area to be heated is designed so that the liquid to be collected before a Collecting in a collection container, such as the evaporation tray is brought to the predetermined temperature.

According to a further embodiment, the heating device is arranged around the area to be heated, in particular a liquid drain. For example, the area to be heated is a tubular drain for liquid that is completely surrounded by the

Heating device is surrounded. But it is also possible that the area to be heated is a shell or a funnel, each of which from the sides

Heating device are surrounded. This can be an effect of the predetermined temperature on the pathogens and bacteria on an enlarged area to achieve, whereby the sterilization effect is improved.

According to a further embodiment, the heating device comprises a

Heating resistor. An electrical heating resistor is usually able to achieve a high heating power within a short time, so that the predetermined temperature can be adjusted in a simple manner. In addition, a heating resistor is characterized by low production and space requirements. For example, such a heating resistor can be applied flat to a wall region of the refrigeration device. A heating resistor can also be easily on the inside or the

Outside of a pipe, in particular a liquid drain attach. Also, the provision of a heating resistor inside a tube, in particular in

Wall material of a plastic pipe, can be accomplished with little effort.

According to a further embodiment, the heating device has a heating coil which is wound around the area to be heated. Such an arrangement proves to be particularly favorable when the area to be heated is round, such as a drain pipe of a liquid drain.

According to a further aspect, the invention relates to a method for operating a refrigeration device with a heating device. In this case, a portion of the refrigerator is heated by the heater to a predetermined temperature in a predetermined period of time, which is suitable for at least partial sterilization of the area, in particular for killing pathogens and / or pathogenic bacteria. This allows the number of pathogens in a refrigeration device to be on reduce unacceptable levels and increase the number of pathogens in the

Restrict refrigeration unit.

According to a further aspect, the invention relates to a method for producing a refrigeration device with a heating device. In this case, the heating device is provided such that it is set up in a predetermined period of time a region of the

Refrigeration device to a predetermined temperature, which is suitable for at least partial sterilization of the area, in particular for killing pathogens and / or pathogenic bacteria. Under a refrigeration device is in particular a household refrigeration appliance understood, ie a refrigeration appliance for household management in households or possibly in the

Catering area is used, and in particular serves to store food and / or drinks in household quantities at certain temperatures, such as a refrigerator, a freezer, a fridge-freezer, a freezer or a wine storage cabinet.

Further embodiments will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a refrigeration device with a heating device, FIG. 2 shows an exemplary time-temperature diagram,

3 shows an exemplary embodiment of a refrigeration device in a detailed view,

Fig. 4 shows a first embodiment of a liquid drain, and

Fig. 5 shows a second embodiment of a liquid drain. Fig. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a refrigeration device 1. In the interior of the refrigerator 1, a cooling space 3 is provided, in the lower region of a

Collection device is provided for collecting condensate or condensation water. The collecting device comprises funnel-shaped arranged drainage walls 5, which in a tubular-shaped liquid drain 7 open. The liquid drain 7 can also be referred to as drain pipe of the collecting device. At the lower open end of the drain pipe 7, an evaporation tray 8 is provided on a

Compressor or compressor 9 of the refrigeration device 1 is arranged. The drain pipe 7 has a region 10 in which a heating device 11 is arranged.

In operation of the refrigeration device 1, the drain pipe 7 is flowed through by a liquid 13, which is collected in the evaporation tray 8. In particular, the liquid 13 is condensed water or condensed water which has collected in the cooling space 3 of the refrigeration device 1. Due to the natural waste heat of the compressor 9, the collected liquid 13 is brought to evaporate.

The liquid 13 also pathogens, germs or pathogenic bacteria are passed through the drain pipe 7. Regularly also remain

Liquid droplets in the area 10 of the drain pipe 7, so that there is a

Propagation of the contained pathogens and bacteria can come. The

However, the heating device 11 of the refrigeration device 1 is configured to heat the region 10 of the refrigeration device 1 to a predetermined temperature in a predetermined period of time, which is suitable at least for partial sterilization of the region 10 and in particular for killing the pathogens or disease-causing bacteria. For the predetermined temperature, a temperature range of 70 ° C to 100 ° C can be selected, in particular a range between 80 and 90 ° C. The choice of the predetermined temperature from this range enables effective killing of the

Pathogens and bacteria in the area 10, so that in particular their spread is prevented in the cooling chamber 3. The heating device 11 comprises in the present embodiment, a heating coil, which is arranged around the region 10 of the liquid outflow 7 around, in particular wound.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary time-temperature profile during operation of the heating device 11. In particular, the temperature at the surface of the region 10 is shown. It can be seen that from a basic temperature, which substantially corresponds to the internal temperature of the cooling space 3, is heated in a short time to a higher temperature, in particular the predetermined temperature, this predetermined temperature is maintained or raised slightly and after a predetermined time the lower one Base temperature drops. After a certain time at the base temperature, another heating process takes place according to the principle described above. With the heating device 11 thus the predetermined temperature is generated in a pulse-shaped operation, wherein a pulse duration of the heating operation is preferably between 5 s and 10 s. This is achieved, inter alia, that the pathogens are killed in sufficient numbers and also the basic temperature in the refrigerator 3 is not changed sustainably.

However, a corresponding heater can also be used at other locations in the refrigerator. Fig. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of a refrigeration device, which is equipped with no-frost technology. In such equipped with no-frost technology refrigeration device is a heat exchanger 15, in particular a

Lamella evaporator, provided with a heater 17. Not one here

shown fan air is passed to the cooling chamber 3 to the heat exchanger 15, where the humidity is reflected as frost. The dry, cold and dehumidified air is returned via air ducts in the cooling chamber 3. During breaks in the refrigeration cycle, the heat exchanger 15 is periodically defrosted by the heater 17. The resulting condensation water is passed in the illustrated arrangement via a gutter or Abiauffläche 5A in a liquid drain 7A. In the area 10 of the

Liquid drain 7A, a heater 1 1 is provided which heats the area 10 to the predetermined temperature according to the principle described above to kill pathogens. In addition, in the arrangement in Fig. 3, a further region 10A is provided, in which a further heating device 11A is mounted. This heating device 11A also serves to heat the region 10A to a predetermined temperature, which is at least suitable for partial sterilization of the region 10A, in particular for killing pathogens there. With the described embodiment less pathogens are allowed in the refrigerator, so that the hygiene of the refrigerator 1 is improved and stored in the refrigerator 3 refrigerated goods can be stored longer without impairment. In various modifications of the arrangement of FIG. 3, only one of the areas 10, 10A can be provided with a corresponding heating device 11, 1A.

4 shows an exemplary embodiment of a liquid outflow 7, in which, unlike the previously described embodiments, the heating device 11 in FIG

Wall material 19 of the liquid drain is arranged. Preferably, the Running heater with a heating resistor, for example, runs as a heating coil in the pipe of the liquid drain 7.

5 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a liquid outflow 7, in which the heating device 11 is applied to the inner wall of the liquid outflow 7.

In particular, the heating device 1 1 rests on the wall material 19 of the drain 7. For example, the heater 1 1 is formed by a foil-like heating resistor.

With the previously described embodiments of a refrigeration appliance with a heater, cleanliness and hygiene in a refrigeration appliance can be improved because of the reduced number of pathogens and bacteria in the refrigeration appliance. This is especially for refrigerators in the household area given a way to keep food longer in the refrigerator. In particular, the life of the food in the refrigerator is increased.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 refrigeration device

3 refrigerator

5, 5A drain boards

7, 7A liquid drain

8 evaporation tray

9 compressors

10, 10A range

11, 11A heater

13 liquid

15 evaporator

17 defrosting device

19 wall material

Claims

Refrigeration appliance (1) with a heating device (11, 1 1A), characterized in that the heating device (11, 1 1A) is arranged to heat a range (10, 10A) of the refrigeration device (1) to a predetermined temperature in a predetermined period of time which is suitable for at least partial sterilization of the area (10, 10A).

Refrigerating appliance (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the predetermined temperature is suitable for killing pathogens and / or pathogenic bacteria.

Refrigerating appliance (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the predetermined temperature is greater than or equal to 70 ° C, in particular greater than 80 ° C.

Refrigerating appliance (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the predetermined temperature is less than or equal to 100 ° C, in particular less than 90 ° C.

Refrigerating appliance (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the predetermined period of time is 5 seconds to 10 seconds.

Refrigerating appliance (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the heating device (1 1, 11 A) is arranged to generate the predetermined temperature in a pulsed operation.

Refrigerating appliance (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the area to be heated (10, 10A) in the interior of a cooling space (3) of the refrigeration device (1) is arranged.

Refrigerating appliance (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the area to be heated (10, 10A) comprises a liquid drain (7, 7A), in particular a condensation or condensate drain.

9. Refrigerating appliance (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the liquid drain (7, 7A) comprises a gutter and / or a drain pipe.

10. Refrigerating appliance (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the area to be heated (10, 10A) is a collecting device (5, 5A, 7, 7A, 8) for collecting a liquid (13), in particular condensation water of a defrosting

(17) in the refrigeration device (1).

11. Refrigerating appliance (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the

Collection device (5, 5A, 7, 7A, 8) comprises an evaporation tray (8) for receiving the liquid (13).

12. Refrigerating appliance (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that the

Evaporation tray (8) on a compressor (9) of the refrigerator (1) is arranged.

13. Refrigerating appliance (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the heating device (11, 1 1A) around the area to be heated (10, 10A), in particular a liquid drain (7, 7A), is arranged.

14. Refrigerating appliance (1) according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the heating device (1 1, 1 1A) comprises a heating resistor.

15. Refrigerating appliance (1) according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the heating device (1 1, 1 1A) has a heating coil which is wound around the area to be heated (10, 10A),

16. A method for operating a refrigeration appliance (1) with a heating device (11, 1 1A), characterized in that in a predetermined period of time, a region (10, 10A) of the refrigeration device (1) by the heating device (1 1, 11A) a predetermined temperature is heated, which is suitable for killing pathogens and / or pathogenic bacteria.

17. A method for producing a refrigeration device (1) with a heating device (1 1, 11 A), characterized in that the heating device (11, 11 A) is provided such that it is arranged in a predetermined period of time Area (10, 10A) of the refrigerator (1) to a predetermined temperature, which is for at least partial sterilization of the area (10, 10A), in particular for the destruction of pathogens and / or pathogenic bacteria suitable.